What looks like a fairly straightforward stainless steel structure can actually play a very important role in workplace safety.
The Brisbane Tank Manufacturing team completed a custom made degassing chamber a awhile back designed to make 44 gallon drums and IBC units safer to open; particularly where the contents may have produced vapours or gases that could create a hazardous situation.
This is a great example of how engineering isn’t always about building something bigger. Sometimes, it’s about designing a very specific solution to solve a very specific safety problem.
So, what exactly is a degassing chamber?
When liquids, chemicals or other materials are stored in containers, they can sometimes release vapours or gases over time.
That means a container that looks completely ordinary from the outside may not be as straightforward to open as it appears.
Opening a drum or IBC can potentially release accumulated vapours or pressure. Depending on what has been stored inside, those vapours could present risks to workers and the surrounding environment.
That’s where a degassing chamber can provide an additional layer of protection.
The chamber provides a controlled environment for the container opening process, helping to manage the gases or vapours that may be present rather than simply allowing them to be released directly into the surrounding workspace.
In other words, it’s about controlling the risk rather than leaving it to chance.
Custom engineering for a very specific job
One of the things we particularly enjoy at Brisbane Tank Manufacturing is working on projects where there isn't necessarily an off the shelf solution.
This degassing chamber was custom made specifically for the application, taking into account the size and type of containers it needs to accommodate, as well as the need for visibility and a robust construction.
The chamber has been fabricated using SHS stainless steel, providing a strong and durable framework suitable for an industrial environment.
But there’s another feature that really stands out.
10 mm acrylic panels
The chamber incorporates 10 mm thick acrylic sheets, allowing operators to see what is happening inside while the degassing process is taking place.
That visibility is an important part of the design.
In industrial environments, being able to observe a process without unnecessarily exposing yourself to the hazard can make a significant difference.
The combination of a strong stainless steel structure and clear acrylic panels creates a practical balance between durability, visibility and controlled operation.
Designed around the people using it
Good engineering isn't just about the equipment itself.
It's about understanding how people will interact with it.
A solution can be technically impressive, but if it doesn't work practically for the people using it every day, it hasn't really solved the problem.
That’s why custom fabrication can be so valuable.
Rather than trying to make an existing product fit an application, the design can start with the actual requirement:
What are we trying to achieve?
What are the risks?
What containers are involved?
How will operators use the equipment?
And how can the process be made safer and more controlled?
Those questions help shape the engineering solution.
Why IBCs and 44 gallon drums need consideration
Drums and IBCs are used across an enormous range of industries - from manufacturing and processing through to waste management, chemical handling and industrial services.
They are incredibly useful because they allow materials to be stored and transported efficiently.
But the fact that a container has been sitting quietly doesn't necessarily mean there is no hazard inside.
Depending on the material and conditions, gases or vapours can accumulate within a container. When the container is opened, those gases may be released suddenly.
A purpose designed chamber provides a controlled point at which that process can take place.
And that’s exactly what this new BTM fabrication has been designed to do.
Another custom solution from Brisbane Tank Manufacturing
Projects like this are a great reminder that tank and fabrication engineering isn't always about simply manufacturing a standard tank.
At Brisbane Tank Manufacturing, the team works on custom solutions designed around the particular requirements of the customer and the application.
From tanks and vessels through to specialised fabrication and industrial equipment, the challenge is often understanding the problem first and then engineering the right solution.
This degassing chamber is a perfect example.
Stainless steel framework.
10 mm acrylic panels.
Custom engineered.
Designed for a specific industrial safety application.
And, most importantly, it has been built to help make a potentially hazardous task more controlled and safer for the people carrying it out.
That's custom engineering with a purpose.
Interested in a custom fabrication solution?
If your business has a process, piece of equipment or workplace challenge that needs a purpose built solution, the team at Brisbane Tank Manufacturing can work with you to explore what can be designed and fabricated.
Because sometimes the best solution isn't something you can buy off the shelf. Sometimes, you need to build it. We talk tanks and more!
